Anti-foam filler means



Dec. 25, 1956 E. P. KING ANTI-FOAM FILLER MEANS Filed May 13, 1955 ANTI-FOAM FILLER MEANS Edward P. King, Three Oaks, Mich., assignor of thirty percent to Carley Daniel, thirty percent to Reuben W. Peterson, and ten percent to Elgin Milk Products Co., Inc., all ofv Galien, Mich.

Application May 13, 1955, Serial No. 508,123

Claims. (Cl. 299-144) My invention appertains to attachments or devices to prevent foaming when filling containers with liquids of dierent Viscosities.

An important object of my invent-ion is to` provide an attachment or device of the aforementioned character which may be utilized forl dispensing liquids into containers from storage tanks retaining the liquids, a device which will have the property of preventing foaming or bubbling over produced by the rapid filling of containers; the application of this device may be made in connection with liquids of varied viscosities.

Another object of my invention is to provide in an attachment of the aforementioned character a valve structure provided with an attachment having enlarged contines so as to reduce the pressure originating at the: source and thus prevent the formation of foam or bubbles on the surface of the liquid in order to permit accurate volumetric `lling thus` assuring iil'ling the containers` with full contents as required by law.

Another object of my invention is to provide an attachment used in concert with a liquid control valve, said attachment consisting of a housing and having; a multiplicity of perforated plates or discs therein, said plates either having like perforations equally spaced, or having different sizes of perforations in the respective plates, and also having them spaced diiferently in each respective plate, the combination and `number of plates to be utilized depending on the viscosity of the liquids dispensed.

Another object of my inventionis to provide an antifoarning device or attachment of the aforementioned character which may be readily assembled and dismantled for cleaning purposes.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an anti-foaming attachment of the aforementioned character in which a lesser or agreater number of perforate plates may be assembled for the purposes for which it is,l purported to be used.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an anti-foaming attachment `of the aforementioned character which will be provided with enlarged contines reducing the filling pressure` so that the same will fall in a stream which is of frusto-conical formation and thus` till the container preventing bubbles or foam from` forming on the surface of the liquid hence saving considerable time in filling said containers..

Normally filling containers with attachments at present on the marketV involves considerable loss ofV time while awaiting the foaming, or bubbling to subside so as to note the actual level of the liquid in order to see whether it conforms to legal filling orl volumetric requirements.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an anti-foaming attachmentofthe aforementioned character which is simple in construction and practical in its operation and which will perform ideally the filling operation when dispensed therefrom preventing bubbles and foam from forming hencesaving considerable time in more expediently illing containers.

A still further object of my invention is to provide in United States Patent O an anti-foaming device a plurality, or a multiplicity, of perforate plates which are subjected to intermittent gyrational movements so that the perforations of adjacent plates will destroy any tendency toward incipient bubble formation.

Other objects and advantages resident in my invention will become apparent from an examination of the accompanying drawings, bearing further elucidation in the ensuing description, wherein like symbols are used to designate like parts, and in which;

Fig. l is a front elevational View partly in section showing my device in actual operation connected to a source of liquid supply.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top elevational view showing the vital elemental structure of the valve mechanism, in other words, it is a view looking in the direction 2-2 on Fig. 1.y

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the lines 3-3fof Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view looking in the direction of arrows 4--4 showing fragments of ve plates and their specific construction.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary and enlarged sectional View looking in the direction of arrows 5-5' on Fig'. 4.

Fig. 6 is a top view reduced in size and depicting the lowermost plate used in connection withmy anti-foaming attachment showing also the means whereby the same retains the assembly in compact form for use preventing gyra-tional movement thereof, but permitting the upper plates, to be gyrated during the til-ling and pressure reducing operations.

Referring tothe various views, my invention is, generally, designated 7: and is shown connected by means of a gland nut 14 to an outlet 13 of a tank 15 in which milk, or other dairy products, or other food products such as soups, are `maintained for filling purposes. In this particular instance a milk can` S is shown having a reduced neck portion 9l which is being filled with milk. As indicated the streamA of milk coming fromthe filler valve and the attachment 7 is truste-conical in shape as shown at 33 having its narrowest portion 34 near the bottom and.` showing the surface 35 clear of bubbles or foam.

The outlet 13 is provided with a ground' seat landtthe valve head 1t) is provided with a mating valve ground seat 12 so that the same may be maintained in sealing relationship by virtue of the gland nut 14. The extension 11 on the valve head l0 is provided with a ground` seat 12 as hereinbefore mentioned` and a passageway 2,1 which merges or connects when in open position with the valve stem 18 which is of frusto-conical formation as indicated in order to tit in sealing relationship with the frustoconical recess 1'7 in the valve head 10.

The passageway 2l merges with the arcuatcly formed feeding passage 219 in the valve stern 18 Iandthe liquid is fed from the tank 15 through the passagevvays` 21 and 20.

The bottom portion of the valve stem 18 is suitably threaded in order to hold the lock nut 31 which holds the case 22 by means of spring tension`29- abutting the bottom edge 3i)f of the valve head-10, its pressure. bein-g exerted on the enlarged washer 28 so as to. afford uniform spring pressure toward holding` the casev 22 in position.

' The case 22 is provided with eight more or less retaining mediately between adjacent recesses 24 therein. The plates 25 and 25' are perforate and are provided with perforations respectively 26 and 26. Perforations 26 may be of a certain size whereas the perforations 26 in plates 25 may be of like size or larger in dimension. The perforations 26 in plate 25 may be spaced in a certain relationship whereas the perforations 2,6 may be larger or smaller and arranged in dilerent spaced relationship th-an those on the plate 25, so that the various permutations and combinations of perforations 26 and 26' may be utilized dependent upon the viscosity of the liquids employed or being dispensed through the valve unit and the attachment herein shown.

` to said valve structure and a plurality of perforate plates The liquid leaves the tank when the valve is in the open position indicated in Fig. 3 and it dispenses the liquid through the passageways 21 and 20 and through the enlarged confines 32 which permit any air bubble formation to be destroyed. Then the liquid continues in a truste-conical stream as indicated at 33 with its smallest portion at the bottom thereof as indicated at 34 thus causing the liquid surface 3S to rise within the can 8 without any bubble formation thereupon. The liquid will rise to the surface 36 without forming any bubbles or foam thereon so that the operator will be capable of lling, as quickly as possible, a can and removing it instantly seeing whether it conforms to the legal requirements and regulations and without having to wait for foam or bubbles to subside in order to complete the operation. A considerable saving of time is thus effectuated.'

It should be noted that the plates 25 may be subjected to intermittent gyrational movement Whereas the plate 25 is locked by virtue of the pins 27 from being subjected to gyrational movement for if it were permitted to move, then the plate 25 as well as the plates 25 might be caused to occasionally register with the retaining lips 23 and thus the plates would fall through. When it is desired to remove the plates for cleaning purposes the device is inverted, the plates 25 and 25 are permitted to drop to the closed upper portion of the case 22 and then rotated until the recesses or notches 24 are in registry with the retaining lips 23 and thus dismantling is permitted for cleaning purposes and for replacement or changing of the combination of plates to be employed. Two or more plates may be employed depending on the viscosity of the liquid being dispensed through the valve head 10. The valve stem 18 is provided with a manipulating handle 19 so that is may be opened as in Fig. 3 or closed as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 2.

Although I have herein described rather succinctly the nature and use of my invention so that persons skilled in the art will have no diticulty apprising themselves of the teachings thereof and, inasmuch as the disclosure is susceptible of various alterations, modications, and improvements, I hereby reserve the right to all modifications, alterations, and improvements falling within the scope and spirit of my invention, as well as any modifications that are embraced suggestively in the accompanying drawings, and any that may come within the purview of the foregoing description; my invention to be limited only by the appended claims.

Having thus described and revealed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Anti-foaming attachment means for dispensing liquids`of different viscosities, comprising a valve structure, and an anti-foaming attachment secured thereto, said anti-foaming attachment, including an enlarged casing open at its bottom portion and secured removably to said valve structure, and a plurality of perforate plates mounted loosely and in intimate contactual relationship within said casing, said casing being provided with a multiplicity of retaining lip portions at its bottom portion, said perforate plates being provided with a like number of recesses adapted to-register with said retaining lip pormounted loosely and in intimate contactual relationship within said casing, said casing `being provided with a multiplicity of retaining lip portions at its bottom portion, said perforate plates being provided with a like number of recesses adapted to register with said retaining lip portions to facilitate inserting, changing, dismantling and removing said perforate plates, the lowermost of said perforate plates being provided with antigyrational means engageable by. one of said retaining lip portions in order to maintain all said perforate plates in assembly when said anti-foaming attachment is in operative position.

3. Anti-foaming attachment means for dispensing liquids of dilerent viscosities, comprising a valve structure, an anti-foaming attachment removably and resiliently secured thereto, said anti-foaming attachment, including an enlarged casing open at its bottom portion and secured removably to said valve structure, and a plurality of perforate plates mounted loosely and in intimate contactual relationship within said casing, said casing being provided with a multiplicity of retaining lip portions at it bottom portion, said perforate plates being provided with a like member of recesses adapted to register with said retaining lip portions to facilitate inserting, changing dismantling and removing said perforate plates, and spring means interposed between said valve structure and said anti-foaming attachment.

4. Anti-foaming -attachment means for dispensing liquids of different viscosities, comprising a valve structure, an anti-foaming attachment removably and resiliently secured thereto, said anti-foaming attachment, including an enlarged casing open at its bottom portion and secured removably to said valve structure, and a plurality of perforate plates mounted loosely and in intimate contactual relationship within said casing, said casing being provided with a multiplicity of retaining lip portions at its bottom portion, said perforate plates being provided with a like number of recesses adapted to register with said retaining lip portions to facilitate inserting, changing, dismantling and removing said perforate plates, the lowermost of said perforate plates being provided with anti-gyrational means engageable by one of said retaining lip portions in order to maintain all said perforate plates in assembly When said anti-foaming attachment is in operative position, and spring means interposed between said valve structure and said anti-foaming attachment.

5. In anti-foaming means adapted to be secured to a liquid outlet, a 'casing larger than said outlet and open at its bottom portion, and a plurality of perforate plates mounted loosely and in intimate contactual relationship within said casing permitting liftable as well as intermittent gyrational movements of said perforate plates, said casing being of a depth substantially greater than the composite thicknesses of said perforate plates.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 197,836 Dodge Dec. 4, 1877 616,224 Cullison Dec. 20, 1898 643,181 Woodworth Feb. 13, 1900 1,297,370 Loomis Mar. 18, 1919 2,100,165 Holmberg Nov. 23, 1937 2,101,938 Giberson Dec. 14, 1937 2,651,546 Palm Sept. 8, 1953 

